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Transferring data to new iMac

How do I make a time machine backup to an external drive?

iMac 21.5″, macOS 10.13

Posted on Apr 17, 2021 10:41 AM

Reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Apr 17, 2021 12:25 PM

Hi wiliam241,


Please refer to: Back up your Mac with Time Machine - Apple Support.


You also may need to format your external disk first:

  1. Go to Disk Utility (Finder --> Go --> Utilities)
  2. In Disk Utility, select “View” --> “Show All Devices”.
  3. Select the top level, non indented, drive in the external section of Disk Utility that matches the name of your external drive.
  4. Click Erase
  5. Name: any name you want
  6. Format: Mac OS Extended (Journaled) if macOS Catalina or earlier, APFS if Big Sur.
  7. Scheme: GUID
  8. Click Erase
  9. Setup Time Machine again.


Cheers,


Jack

1 reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Apr 17, 2021 12:25 PM in response to wiliam241

Hi wiliam241,


Please refer to: Back up your Mac with Time Machine - Apple Support.


You also may need to format your external disk first:

  1. Go to Disk Utility (Finder --> Go --> Utilities)
  2. In Disk Utility, select “View” --> “Show All Devices”.
  3. Select the top level, non indented, drive in the external section of Disk Utility that matches the name of your external drive.
  4. Click Erase
  5. Name: any name you want
  6. Format: Mac OS Extended (Journaled) if macOS Catalina or earlier, APFS if Big Sur.
  7. Scheme: GUID
  8. Click Erase
  9. Setup Time Machine again.


Cheers,


Jack

Transferring data to new iMac

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